The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-04
Gen. Longstreet at Home.

AfO"t ItC NfttOoyC ItHtcSs
Twenty-Five years ago Gen James Long
street was man of blood. The one object
of his life was the slaughter of men.
What change has come! Perfect peace
surrounds the old soldier in the evening of
his life
A quiet farm house stands on the summit
of a mountain ridge in North Georgia Be
fore it lies the valley of the Chattahoochee
The ground descends rapidly, and from the
home of LOngstreet one looks down upon
the treetops For miles and miles stretches
a restless sea of green, famed this way and
that way by the mountain winds. Beyond
rises a range of hills, and further still are
the Blue Ridge Mountains, darkly outlined
against the sky.
As | approached the house few days ago
| saw no sign of life save pickaninny in
the horse lot, and some very ine-looking
chickens in the yard.
The large double doors at the front of the
house stood half-open. There was no bell,
so l knocked. There was no response, so |
knocked again. My next rap, it seemed to
me, was enough to loosen the plastering in
the hall. Still there was no response. At
that moment caught sound of snore.
There is life in the old land YETI
thought, as l made an effort to awaken the
Snorer.
But the more l knocked the louder did
the snorer snore | grew tired and quit
knocking. l turned from the door and
looked upon the beautiful and peaceful
scene stretching away to where the sky
touched the mountain tops. was so vexed
that wanted to throw rock at a hooking
bird singing in big sycamore near by.
Turning to. the door again put all my
strength into one terrific crash against the
door. There was sudden sound as of one
awakening inside the house, and Lees old
war horse came down the hall to meet me.
His hair was silver. His whiskers were
snow. His giant figure was somewhat bent.
but his eagle eyes still flashed with the old
time fire, and years had only deepened the
strong lines in his face. He was dressed for
comfort. He did not care that his collar
was awry, that his vest adorned chair
post, that his Alapaca coat was ripped up
the back. He did not care that his slip
pers went flap, flap, flap" against his
heels as he walked. did not care either.
Nobody here today but me-" said the
old warrior, as he showed me into the
library, where he had been sleeping on a
lounge. spent quiet afternoon with my
old friend. He talked to me about war and
showed me his old Confederate uniform.
Il shall put it on some day and have my
picture taken,n he said.
Have you had enough of ware" asked.
piled, "but if France and Germany should
come to blows l would like to go over and
see Won Moltke fight
Gen. Longstreet is wonderfully like the
pictures of Emperor William. A friend
travelling in Europe sent him a large photo
graph Of the German Emperor, and Mrs.
Longstreet's cook believes to this day it is a
picture of her "Marse Jeems"
The Generals fortune is rather small but
lie lives comfortably. He divides his time
between vineyard and a history which he
is now writing. The history will be out IN
about a year. 1t will contain some very
startling statements about the late war.
The book will be made up mainly of ac-
counts of adventures in the wars i'll which
Gen. Longstreet has taken part.
Gen. Longstreet is charming in converse
ton, though he is very deaf. Mrs. Long
street is a very vivacio;ls little lady, and of
course quite proud Of the General. Her
maiden name was Maria Louise Garland,
and her parents lived in Virginia. Gen. and
Mrs Longstrect have five children-four
sons and a daughter. The Oldest son, Major
John Longstreet, was in the war at II, and
is now 81 years old. The other SONS are
Robert Lee, born in Petersburg in 1868
James, born in I.yrchburg in 1866. and Fit
Randolph. born in Lynchburg in 1859. The
daughter Miss Maria Louise Longstreet,
now IA years old, was born in Flint, Mich.
Gen. IonEstroct was born about mile
from Augusta, Ga, on the South Carolina
side Of the Savannah river. He is 90 years
old, is in splendid health, and bids fair to
live many NplTS vet